Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Keld, by the way, is roughly the halfway point, and what lies ahead is
every bit as good as what has been left behind (whichever way you are
going).
Keld to Reeth
Distance
19km (12 miles)
Height Gain
130m (425 feet)
Between Keld and Reeth there is a choice of routes. One swings high on to the moor-
land, where it affords a thorough inspection of the remains of the lead-mining industry
that once flourished in these part, the other faithfully courts the River Swale. The
former is described by Wainwright as 'a grim trek amidst the debris of a dead industry',
while the latter will appeal to those who enjoy riverside rambles, a spectacular display
of wild flowers, and the conviviality of rural pubs (of which there is quite a number).
The high-level route is given in Appendix A, and much of it can be confusing in
mist. Miners' tracks and sledgates radiate in all directions, the litter of man's industry
abounds, and however precise a worded description, the potential for error is not in-
significant. The lower, Swale option, with its riverside paths and country lanes, is un-
doubtedly the best course.
Rightly described as the Royal Road to Reeth, the low-level route between Keld and
Reeth is riparian loveliness at its best, an extravagance of riverside wandering across
meadows lush with wild flowers.
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